Jun 28, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2024-2025 
    
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USC Catalogue 2024-2025

Freshman Seminars

Return to: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences  

Grace Ford Salvatori Hall, Suite 320
(213) 740-2961
dornsife.usc.edu/fsem
Director: Richard Fliegel, PhD

Freshman Seminars introduce freshmen to the larger academic world they are now entering. These small group seminars address topics of current interest in contemporary research and scholarship.

Freshmen earn 2 units of baccalaureate credit through participation in these weekly seminars. Active exploration of the life of the mind is emphasized through a variety of classroom activities and assignments.

To encourage the relaxed interchange of information and ideas, most seminars are graded credit/no credit. Each seminar is limited in enrollment to 18 freshmen.

Freshman Seminars encourage the natural development of the mentoring relationship between faculty and students. An early start on building these connections enhances the opportunities for intellectual growth throughout the student’s years at USC.

Freshman Seminars are offered for the fall and spring semesters in a variety of subjects. Individual topics are indicated by parenthetical titles in the Schedule of Classes (usc.edu/soc) under the FSEM designation or on the department’s website (usc.edu/fsem).

For further information, please contact Richard Fliegel, PhD, (213) 740-2961, email: fliegel@usc.edu, or Marsha Chavarria-Winbush, (213) 740-2961, email: chavarri@usc.edu, or Maria Velasquez, (213) 740-2961, email: mvelasqu@usc.edu.

Programs

Courses

Freshman Seminars

  • FSEM 100 Freshman Seminar

    Units: 2
    Max Units: 4.0
    Terms Offered: FaSp
    A seven-to-eleven week course offered for incoming freshmen; limited to 18 students.
    Credit Restriction: A combined maximum of 4 units of FSEM 100 and FSEM 101 may be applied to the degree.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Credit/No Credit

  • FSEM 101 Freshman Seminar

    Units: 2
    Max Units: 4.0
    Terms Offered: FaSp
    A seven-to-eleven week course offered for incoming freshmen; limited to 18 students. Letter graded.
    Credit Restriction: A combined maximum of 4 units of FSEM 100 and FSEM 101 may be applied to the degree.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Letter

  • FSEM 180 First Year College Seminar

    Units: 2
    Max Units: 4.0
    Terms Offered: FaSp
    A thematic seminar for entering students in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, exploring an area of academic study, research, or creative work.
    Instruction Mode: Lecture
    Grading Option: Credit/No Credit